WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Group finds link between pesticides, well water contamination (Hartford-WTNH) _ Does a greener lawn mean dirty drinking water? That's something environmentalists are concerned about. The increase in the number of people using chemicals to feed their grass and kill insects has led to pesticide pollution. Environmentalists say chemicals from your yard or even your neighbor's yard can get into wells, pollute drinking water, and pose a health risk. News Channel 8's Jayne Saffer reports. Nancy Alderman, "Environment & Human Health": "In a community where lawn and tree care pesticides are used, they can get into anyone's groundwater." The group Environment & Human Health, Inc. says when people spray chemicals on their lawns it can leech into the soil and get into residential wells. The non-profit group tested 53 wells in Woodbridge for pesticides. Alderman: "We found that 11-percent of them had detectable levels of pesticides in them. One well had 5 pesticides in it." The group says the public needs to be aware of the potential of exposure to these toxic chemicals. Dr. John Wargo works on risk analysis and environmental policy at Yale University. Dr. John Wargo, Yale Associate Professor: "So if water is contaminated one could be exposed from drinking water, from water added to food. In the shower, for example, if the water is contaminated you would inhale it." The state does not require homeowners to test their wells for pesticides, and environmental experts say in fact most people don't test for their chemicals. Nowadays commercial companies are required to post signs when they spray to alert neighbors. Experts say pregnant women and children are most susceptible. Dr. Wargo: "Their central nervous system is developing rapidly from conception to roughly age 6 or 7. Their liver not capable of detoxifying compounds like yours and mine might be." But landscapers like Stephen Martin say licensed companies use pesticides very carefully, and are required to keep records of the pesticides they use. Stephen Martin, Martin's Landscaping: "There's a lot of unlicensed pesticide users, and that is what we have to worry about. Nobody is keeping a record of what they are doing." Environment & Human Health has some tips for homeowners. People with private wells should try to reduce pesticide use. Try non-chemical strategies first. Many commercial companies will offer those. Pesticides should only be used on lawns and tree where there is a known pest problem. An estimated 225,000 Connecticut homes are on private wells. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Group finds link between pesticides, well water contamination
(Hartford-WTNH) _ Does a greener lawn mean dirty drinking water? That's something environmentalists are concerned about. The increase in the number of people using chemicals to feed their grass and kill insects has led to pesticide pollution. Environmentalists say chemicals from your yard or even your neighbor's yard can get into wells, pollute drinking water, and pose a health risk.
News Channel 8's Jayne Saffer reports.

Nancy Alderman, "Environment & Human Health": "In a community where lawn and tree care pesticides are used, they can get into anyone's groundwater."

The group Environment & Human Health, Inc. says when people spray chemicals on their lawns it can leech into the soil and get into residential wells. The non-profit group tested 53 wells in Woodbridge for pesticides.

Alderman: "We found that 11-percent of them had detectable levels of pesticides in them. One well had 5 pesticides in it."

The group says the public needs to be aware of the potential of exposure to these toxic chemicals. Dr. John Wargo works on risk analysis and environmental policy at Yale University.

Dr. John Wargo, Yale Associate Professor: "So if water is contaminated one could be exposed from drinking water, from water added to food. In the shower, for example, if the water is contaminated you would inhale it."

The state does not require homeowners to test their wells for pesticides, and environmental experts say in fact most people don't test for their chemicals. Nowadays commercial companies are required to post signs when they spray to alert neighbors. Experts say pregnant women and children are most susceptible.

Dr. Wargo: "Their central nervous system is developing rapidly from conception to roughly age 6 or 7. Their liver not capable of detoxifying compounds like yours and mine might be."

But landscapers like Stephen Martin say licensed companies use pesticides very carefully, and are required to keep records of the pesticides they use.

Stephen Martin, Martin's Landscaping: "There's a lot of unlicensed pesticide users, and that is what we have to worry about. Nobody is keeping a record of what they are doing."

Environment & Human Health has some tips for homeowners.

People with private wells should try to reduce pesticide use.
Try non-chemical strategies first. Many commercial companies will offer those.
Pesticides should only be used on lawns and tree where there is a known pest problem.

An estimated 225,000 Connecticut homes are on private wells.

Today's News Page.

WTNH Home Page.